Dublin and Kerry in fine form

By Declan Bogue

It was a weekend when old money showed that they will have a big say when the big canister is being handed out at the end of September, with Dublin and Kerry displaying that they rarely, if ever, underestimate the opposition in their own backyard.

It was a weekend when old money showed that they will have a big say when the big canister is being handed out at the end of September, with Dublin and Kerry displaying that they rarely, if ever, underestimate the opposition in their own backyard.

The Kingdom were in Munster Championship action for the second time in six days, having cut Tipperary from the competition.

Despite a sleepy opening half in which they only opened up a four-point advantage by half-time, they took no mercy on the Waterford, beating them eventually by 26 points.

Colm Cooper crossed a particular landmark of 250 championship points within this game, to go along with his 19 championship goals over his career.

Cork face Clare in the Munster semi-final now and anything other than the old two in the final would be a mammoth shock in the first weekend of July.

In Croke Park on Saturday night, Dublin justified the 7/1 odds offered in support of their opposition, Westmeath. Pat Flanagan's men may have been surprise packages in securing promotion out of division two this spring, but Dublin were simply relentless for periods of time.

Despite going to sleep at certain spells when it appeared all too easy for them, Jim Gavin's squad were able to turn on the boosters and pull away at will with seriously impressive displays from Jack McCaffrey and Paddy Andrews.

Bernard Brogan once again was the top-scorer, but Dublin could have been even more comfortable if he hadn't have backed himself to hit some ridiculously-difficult efforts from out wide.

However, on the evidence of Dublin's fast-moving play, some already have them down for a mouth-watering clash of styles against Donegal, a pairing that might just take place on the biggest day of all. Watch this space.

As curtain-raiser to the Dubs, Offaly against Kildare was unappetising, with a paltry crowd.

Elements of the display weren't to the liking of Kieran McGeeney but old dependable Johnny Doyle hit six points to pull clear from the Faithful and they now meet Dublin on June 30th.

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